Geranium plant named ‘Balfansal’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Geranium  plant named ‘Balfansal’, characterized by its semi-double salmon-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright and mounded growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Variety denomination: ‘Balfansal’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balfansal’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif., during 2000. The purpose of the breeding program was the creation of Geranium plants with a vigorous, upright mounded growth habit, dark green-colored foliage, and new and unique flower color.

The female parent of ‘Balfansal’ was ‘BFP-445 Salmon’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,228). The male parent of ‘Balfansal’ was ‘Fishelen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,727). The new Geranium was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during August 2001 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and was initially designated ‘2810-38’.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings taken since August 2001 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill., has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

It was repeatedly found that the cultivar of the present invention:

-   -   1. Forms semi-double salmon-colored flowers,     -   2. Forms dark green-colored foliage, and     -   3. Exhibits a vigorous, upright and mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar have a less compact habit and have more petals per flower than plants of the female parent. Plants of the new cultivar have darker green-colored foliage than plants of the male parent. Plants of the new cultivar have flowers that are uniformly semi-double, whereas the flowers of the male parent are weakly semi-double.

Of the many commercially available Geranium cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to ‘Balfansal’ is ‘Balfansami’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,764). However, in side by side comparisons, plants of ‘Balfansal’ differ from plants of ‘Balfansami’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of ‘Balfansal’ exhibit darker flower color than plants         of ‘Balfansami’, and     -   2. Plants of ‘Balfansal’ exhibit a more distinct leaf zonation         than plants of ‘Belfansami’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balfansal’. The plants were grown for 8 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balfansal’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of a single umbel of ‘Balfansal’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of single flowers ‘Balfansal’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 1995 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Jul. 30, 2003 in West Chicago, Ill. The readings were taken between 10:00 and 11:45 a.m. under natural light conditions.

The plants used for the following measurements and descriptions were produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 8 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 65°-70° F. (18°-21° C.) during the day and approximately 60°-65° F. (15°-18° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 4,000-6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Plants were pinched at three weeks after the planting of a rooted cutting.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar ‘Balfansal’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘BFP-445 Salmon’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,228).         -   Male parent.—‘Fishelen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,727). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 14 days.         -   Time to develop roots.—Approximately 21 to 28 days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Well branched. -   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, upright and             mounded.         -   Height above pot.—Without inflorescences: Approximately             13.4 cm. Including inflorescences: Approximately 24.2 cm.         -   Width/area of spread.—Approximately 23.8 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Approximately 2             branches per plant. Pinching 14 to 21 days after             transplanting helps to improve basal branching.         -   Branch description.—Length: Approximately 13.8 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 8 mm. Color: 144A. Texture: Hirsute. Internode             length at center of branch: Approximately 1.7 cm.         -   Foliage description.—Form: Mature foliage is simple.             Arrangement: Opposite. Number of leaves per lateral branch:             Approximately 10. Shape: Reniform. Margin: Crenate. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Cordate. Venation pattern: Palmate. Upper             surface texture: Moderately pubescent. Lower surface             texture: Moderately pubescent with dense pubescence along             veins. Color of mature foliage: Upper surface: 137A with             veins of 145A and zone of 147A. Color of mature foliage:             Lower surface: 137C with veins of 146A. Size: Mature leaf             length: Approximately 4.6 cm. Mature leaf width:             Approximately 7.9 cm. Petiole length: Approximately 6.3 cm.             Petiole diameter: Approximately 2.7 mm. Petiole Texture:             Pubescent on both upper and lower surface. Petiole color:             146B with overlay of 187B on upper surface. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Outdoor flowering habit.—‘Balfansal’ is freely flowering             under outdoor growing conditions with substantially             continuous blooming from spring through fall.         -   Time of first flower.—Approximately 8 weeks after planting             of rooted cutting.         -   Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 5-7 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Type.—Hemispherical umbel. Position: Above foliage. Number             of open umbels at any one time: 2. Number of developing             umbels at any one time: 2. Umbel diameter: Approximately             12.1 cm. Umbel height/depth: Approximately 6.9 cm. Number of             flowers per umbel: Approximately 15.6.         -   Peduncle.—Strong, erect. Length: Approximately 13.9 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 4 mm. Texture: Puberulent. Color:             143D at base with rest of length overlaid with 187A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elliptic. Length:             Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 7.3 mm. Petal             color: 38C. Sepal color: N144C.         -   Corolla.—Form: Semi-double. Shape: Round, slightly cupped.             Diameter/Width: Approximately 4.7 cm. Depth: Approximately             1.5 cm. Fragrance: None. Persistent.         -   Petals/petaloids.—Quantity: Approximately 8 petals and 4             petaloids per flower. Arrangement: Imbricate. Shape:             Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.             Texture of upper and lower surface: Glabrous. Upper petal             length: Approximately 2.3 cm. Upper petal width:             Approximately 2 cm. Lower petal length: Approximately             2.5 cm. Lower petal width: Approximately 1.5 cm. Color of             all petals: Fully opened, upper surface: 52A with 55B at             margin and venation of 46D. Lower petals are N155B at base.             Color all petals: Fully opened, lower surface: N155D with             venation of 46D. Petaloid characteristics are the same as             the petals.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Angle: Erect. Length:             Approximately 4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.4 mm. Texture:             Soft, short dense hairs. Color: 144C with overlay of 180B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5. Shape: Elliptic. Tip:             Acuminate. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Length of largest             sepal: 1.1 cm. Width of largest sepal: 3 mm. Length of             smallest sepal: 1.1 cm. Width of smallest sepal: 2 mm.             Texture: Upper surface (inside): Glabrous. Lower surface             (outside): Puberulent. Color: Upper and lower surface: N144C             with overlay of 185A at base.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: 5 per             flower. Filament quantity: Approximately 11. Filament color:             N155B. Anther quantity: Approximately 9. Anther length:             Approximately 2 mm. Immature anther color: 52B. Mature             anther color: 61B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color             169A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: Approximately 9 mm. Stigma shape: 5 pointed star.             Stigma length: 2 mm. Stigma color: 45D. Style length: 2 mm.             Style color: 45D. Ovary length: 5 mm. Ovary diameter: 2 mm.             Ovary texture: Sericeous. Ovary color: 143C. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Geraniums has not been observed. -   Hardiness zone: ‘Balfansal’ is hardy in zones nine (9) and above. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Balfansal’, substantially, as herein shown and described, which:
 1. Forms semi-double salmon-colored flowers,
 2. Forms dark green-colored foliage, and
 3. Exhibits a vigorous, upright and mounded growth habit. 